Peregraf
The federal government of Iraq has strongly condemned the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) recent accusation that groups affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) are behind a series of drone and missile attacks targeting Kurdish cities.
In a statement issued Saturday, Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for the Iraqi Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, described the KRG’s claim as "unacceptable, condemned, and unjustifiable under any pretext."
"The accusation issued by the KRG Ministry of Interior against an official Iraqi security institution is unacceptable, especially in the absence of evidence," al-Numan said. "We demand that any proof, if it exists, be submitted through official government channels."
He warned that such public allegations, issued through media outlets rather than formal coordination mechanisms, could undermine national security and embolden hostile actors.
"These kinds of statements give those lying in wait an opportunity to insult Iraqi institutions and destabilize the country," al-Numan added. "The challenges we face require unity and cooperation—not accusations made through the press."
The federal government reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the security of all Iraqis and stressed that it "will not hesitate to take strict legal measures against any party that attempts to threaten Iraq’s stability."
This response comes after the KRG Interior Ministry, in a statement on Friday, directly accused PMF-affiliated groups of carrying out a recent wave of drone and missile attacks on cities including Erbil, Sulaimani, Kirkuk, and Zakho. The KRG said the attacks were aimed at spreading chaos and urged Baghdad to act.
It also rejected claims by Iranian state-affiliated media that an Israeli base in Erbil was the target of a recent drone strike, calling such reports "misleading and untrue."
The highlights deepening tensions between Erbil and Baghdad over security and military activity in disputed territories and federal-regional coordination. As of now, no casualties have been reported from the recent attacks.